The Tarpons secured the 4-2 victory Thursday only after catcher Geoffrey Saine tagged out Khalil Searcy for the game’s final out after pitcher Dillon McDermott fielded a chopper toward the mound with the bases loaded and flipped the ball to Saine.

Charlotte celebrates its victory over Eagle's View Academy in the championship game of the Red Bracket of the Sarasota Baseball Classic on Thursday at the Buck O'Neil Complex. STAFF PHOTO / DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI

“Bang-bang play and it went Charlotte’s way today,” said Eagle’s View coach Terrance Freeman, who played for Manatee Community College in 1994-95.

Viera won the Blue Bracket title with a 2-1 victory over Ponte Vedra on Thursday night at Sarasota High.

The Tarpons (8-8), who compete in FHSAA Class 7A-District 11 with the likes of Venice and Sarasota, came into the tournament with “a deceiving 4-8 record,” Flaherty said.

“It’s huge,” Flaherty said. “This is traditionally one of the best tournaments in a country, for all I know. We came here ready to play, focused every day and these guys did a great job. Hats off to my players.”

Sophomore right-hander Chris Holland went 61/3 innings and scattered six hits, two runs, both earned, with two strikeouts and one walk.

Holland also went 2-for-2 and scored two runs.

David Fetkenher was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Brandon Murphy and Nick Newman, who also scored two runs, were both 1-for-3.

McDermott allowed one hit.

Tucker Davis’ two-run double in the fourth inning was the only scoring done by Eagle’s View (13-7), a 3A team from Jacksonville.

The Tarpons’ first two runs scored in the first when Eagle’s View center fielder Rhett Criswell misplayed a fly ball by Fetkenher in the first, plating Holland and Newman.

The Tarpons, however, did not leave unscathed.

Senior second baseman Chaz Richards suffered a shoulder injury diving for a ground ball in the fourth and left the game. Flaherty said Richards will be evaluated by the training staff today.

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7, PORT CHARLOTTE 4

Justin Greenaway’s two-run single highlighted a five-run fifth inning that catapulted Lakewood Ranch (9-8) third place in the Red Bracket.

Sophomore right-hander Scott Scout tossed a four-hitter, striking out four and walking two.

Colton Chupp and Shane Zipperer (RBI) each had two hits. Brenden Lewellen and Garett Schultz each had one RBI.

Nick Agosto collected three hits, including a double, and Grady Wells had a pair of hits for the Pirates (6-12), who scored all four of their runs in the fifth.

Donovan Petrey took the loss.

BRADEN RIVER 1, PALMETTO 0

Derrick Cozzette’s squeeze bunt in the third inning scored Myles Straw with the game’s only run as Braden River (6-12) salvaged its lone tournament victory in their third one-run game.

Senior right-hander Brooks Norton went four innings and picked up the win. Bobby Henderson finished to get the save.

Dylan Lee’s double was the only extra-base hit for the Pirates, who had only three hits.

Palmetto senior right-hander John Collins tossed a three-hitter, throwing only 60 pitches, and struck out three.

Brett Vedder was 2-for-3 for the Tigers (7-9), who left five men on base in scoring position and had a runner thrown out at the plate in the third.

“Braden River did what it was supposed to do,” said Palmetto coach Phil Olson. “Throw strikes and let the defense work for them.”

MANATEE 3, NORTH PORT 1

Devin Pellien threw a four-hitter and the Hurricanes beat North Port to win their third straight after losing nine in a row.

Daniel Kerwin was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Manny Rodriguez added an RBI for the Hurricanes (5-13).

“This is good for our guys to put us in the right direction headed for the stretch run of the season,” Manatee coach Dwayne Strong said.

North Port (8-10) did not advance a runner to third base the entire game and the Bobcats gave up a pair of runs on an error in the first inning.

“It was not a good performance,” said North Port coach Rob Rowe, whose team went 1-3 in the tournament.

PINE CREST 5, RIVERVIEW 2

Entering the tournament with one loss, the Rams fell for the second straight day in the third-place game of the Blue Bracket.

Riverview committed three costly errors that helped Pine Crest move into the lead. Jared Pruitt went 3-for-3 with three doubles. Sean Labsan went 2-for-3 for Riverview (14-3).

SARASOTA 10, TAMPA CATHOLIC 0

Catcher Brandon Chapman was 3-for-3 and knocked in five runs.

Tyler Leonard and Evan Mendoza combined on a one-hit. Dylan White, Jason Sierra, Mason Dancer and Mendoza all had two hits for the Sailors (12-4), which finished 3-1 in the Blue Bracket.

BOCA RATON 7, CARDINAL MOONEY 4

The Cougars scored one in the fourth inning and three in the fifth to get even, but allowed three runs in the seventh.